SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti insists the outcome of the clash with Fiorentina will have no bearing on his future with the club. The long-time Rossoneri boss is under contract with the San Siro outfit for a further season but is a reported target of Chelsea.

Every successful World Cup qualifying campaign goes through a critical stretch where a team can look back and say, "That was where qualification was won." Such a period usually involves difficult opponents, tough away environments or a compressed schedule. As luck would have it, the United States will encounter all of these factors next week when it plays Costa Rica away on June 3, and then returns home to play Honduras in Chicago three days later.

Nine goals, a burgeoning reputation as the greatest aerial threat in Europe and, of course, the largest afro in the top flight have earned the 6ft 4in Belgian international cult status among Everton fans

MLS expansion franchise Philadelphia will introduce Peter Nowak as its first head coach at a news conference on Friday, sources with knowledge of the hire confirmed to ESPNsoccernet on Thursday. Nowak, the only man to win an MLS Cup as a player and head coach, is leaving his post as U.S. national team assistant coach to take over as head coach for the Union, which will begin play in 2010.

Satisfied for Sunderland, numb about Newcastle United, maudlin for Middlesbrough. The inquests will rage, clubs will expand or contract and the world will turn. Forgive us if we do not add to that - there is enough of it in the print version of The Times. This is a moment to seek solace in black humour, sarcasm and possibly alcohol (hey, it’s never too early). What better time to roll out our seasonal awards for North East football?

An enthralling final day to the season produced different responses such as crying, singing, resignation and defiance as Newcastle and Middlesbrough suffered relegation and Hull City and Sunderland survived.